BIO: Samuel ARNOLD, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 779 - 781. _____________________________________________________________ SAMUEL ARNOLD, deceased, who had filled a large place in the business life of Clearfield county for many years and had been identified closely with the development of her resources, was not a native of this county but spent the greater part of his life within its lines. Samuel Arnold was born in York county, Pa., February 11, 1822, and died May 31, 1899, at his home in Curwensville, Clearfield county. His parents were Peter and Susan (Klugh) Arnold. The Arnold family in America can claim many distinguished members and successful men of affairs. Its history, as far as the present branch is concerned, begins with an English colonist who reached New England in 1594. His death is recorded at Hartford, Conn., in 1664. One of his descendants was George Arnold, who was the grandfather of the late Samuel Arnold, and whether he was born in York county, Pa., in 1768, may not have been altogether proved, but it is certain that he died there, in 1827. Peter Arnold, son of George and father of the late Samuel Arnold, was one of many children born to his parents, who then lived in York county and there he remained until 1837, when he came to Clearfield county. Here he acquired lands, flocks and herds and in the increasing and managing of these, passed the remainder of his life. He married Susan Klugh, who was born in Lancaster county, Pa. Her father was a native of Germany and came to the American colonies in time to serve for seven years as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. To Peter Arnold and wife were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, namely: George, Samuel, Frederick, Manassa, Joseph R., Anna, Maria and Clarissa. It is worthy of notice that all these five sons developed into men of integrity of character and of more than usual business capacity. Samuel Arnold was fifteen years of age when his parents moved to Clearfield county and he remained under the home roof and continued to help his father until he was twenty-two years of age. He then left home for the first time, going to Illinois, which then was a far western state. There he accepted farm work, learned different if not better methods, and met with many new experiences. At length, satisfied with his glimpse of life beyond his native hills, he returned to Clearfield county. He had a district school education and then taught school and engaged in agricultural operations until 1846, when he embarked in the mercantile business at Luthersburg, Pa., where he remained until 1865. In that year he transferred his business to Curwensville, deeming it a better commercial point. Until the close of his long and honorable business life, Mr. Arnold continued to be identified with Curwensville and many of the enterprises of this town were founded and fostered by his encouragement and financial assistance. Mr. Arnold was one of the organizers of the First National Bank and served as its cashier for thirteen years. He continued his mercantile business, enlarging its scope until his became the leading general mercantile establishment in this section. He also had the foresight to invest in many acres of land covered with timber that was valuable then and in later years became doubly so, and in land containing coal and stone deposits which made mining and quarrying profitable industries, and to his other enterprises he added saw-milling and the handling of lumber on a large scale. The benefit accruing to a community through the enterprise and good judgment of a man like the late Samuel Arnold, can scarcely be adequately computed, including as it does, the opening up of new avenues of income to hundreds, and the distribution of their earnings into other channels. While Mr. Arnold was thus interested in different parts of the county, he was particularly concerned in the development of Curwensville. He set an example to other capitalists by erecting commodious business blocks and other structures and by so improving his residence and other properties that they added to the attractiveness of the place in which he had chosen to make his home. Mr. Arnold was married July 11, 1847, to Miss Mary A. Carlisle, who was born at Palmyra, Lebanon county, Pa., January 30, 1825, and died at Curwensville, Pa., January 9, 1911. Her father, John Carlisle, came to Clearfield county with his family in 1832. He was a man of sterling character and left an impress on his community was frequently elected to responsible offices, and served long as a justice of the peace and as a county commissioner. Subsequently he became a general merchant at Troutville, Pa., where he died in honored old age, in 1886. Mrs. Arnold was the first born in his family of ten children, four sons and six daughters. To Samuel Arnold and wife the following children were born: N. E., William C., Frank L., Samuel P., John, Fannie, Cora and Effie. N. E. Arnold is a resident of Lewisburg, Pa. William C., who is now deceased, was a prominent attorney at Du Bois, Pa., and a well known man in public life, having twice been elected to the United States Congress. Frank L. is a resident of Curwensville. Samuel P., who is serving in his second term as postmaster at Curwensville, is engaged in the lumber business here. John died when aged eight years. Fannie is the wife of William C. Hembold, who is the senior member of the well known insurance agency of Hembold & Stewart, a representative business firm of Curwensville. Cora is the wife of Roland D. Swoope, who is a very prominent attorney at Curwensville. Effie is the wife of A. Z. Wolf, who is one of Curwensville's leading merchants. The late Samuel Arnold was a Republican in his political views and he gave hearty support in promulgating its principles. He never desired public office for himself, however, when called on, in any emergency he was ready to perform every duty that thoroughly honest citizenship demanded. In his church relations he was a member and liberal but unostentatious supporter of the Methodist Episcopal body having connected himself with that church during his residence at Luthersburg. In large measure Samuel Arnold was a self-made man in the true sense of the word. His success in business was a just tribute to his faithfulness, industry, perseverance and integrity. He belonged to that old- time class of men to whom honesty in business was their stepping-stone and who enjoyed its substantial results because they had been legitimately earned. In his personal attitude to family, friends, and to his army of employes, he was noted for the kindness, charity and sympathy which made him beloved and respected by all.